Published Date: 2004-02-15 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/EDR> Measles - Democratic Republic of Congo
Archive Number: 20040215.0503

MEASLES - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
**************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Sun15 Feb 2004
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: IRIN News.org, Sat 14 Feb 2004 [edited]
<http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39488&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes>


Democratic Republic of Congo: measles epidemic in Equateur Province
-------------------------------------------------------------------
KINSHASA: Up to 300 cases of measles have been reported in Basankusu, 210
km north east of Mbandaka, the main town in the Democratic Republic of
Congo province of Equateur, the deputy director of epidemiological services
at the Ministry of Health, Dr Mondonge Makuma, said on Fri 13 Feb 2004.
However, doctors in Basankusu told the UN Mission in the DRC that some 800
people were infected, 3 of whom had died. "We accept that the figures 200
to 300 cases are estimates because the epidemic may be worse," Mondonge
said in Kinshasa, the nation's capital. National health workers have been
on strike for one week now, and it is difficult to determine the exact
figures for the sick.

The cause of this epidemic is also unknown but doctors at Basankusu suspect
it has been caused by the poor refrigeration of vaccines. However, the
World Health Organization (WHO), the epidemiological services at the
Ministry of Health, and vaccination experts say the cause could lie
elsewhere. "It is not necessarily because of bad vaccines, because Medicins
Sans Frontieres have maintained vaccine refrigerators very well in this
area," Mondonge said.

"The greater likelihood for the disease is that vaccination coverage
against measles has been poor in many of these health zones." He said that
the epidemic had resurfaced in all areas where fewer than 80 per cent of
residents had been vaccinated. Fewer than 80 per cent of Basankusu's 100
000 residents were vaccinated against measles, Dr Leon Kinuani, an adviser
on vaccinations at the WHO, said.

--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[ProMED-mail has not been reporting outbreaks of measles in the African
continent on a routine basis, but this outbreak appears to be more
extensive than usual. Although isolates of measles virus display some
genetic variability worldwide there has been no firm evidence to suggest
that the immune response induced by the current live attenuated virus
vaccine is insufficient to provide protection. Local administrative and
social problems, as in the current situation in the Democratic Republic of
Congo, appear to be responsible. - Mod.CP]

See Also

2003
---
Measles exposure, South African airliner: alert 20030925.2418
...............cp/sh

*##########################################################*
ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the
information, and of any statements or opinions based
thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted
or archived material.
************************************************************
Visit ProMED-mail's web site at <http://www.promedmail.org>.
Send all items for posting to: promed@promedmail.org

(NOT to an individual moderator). If you do not give your
full name and affiliation, it may not be posted. Send
commands to subscribe/unsubscribe, get archives, help,
etc. to: majordomo@promedmail.org. For assistance from a
human being send mail to: owner-promed@promedmail.org.

############################################################
############################################################